You are probably aware that you need a current CAA / FAA / JAA / ICAO licence which will be validated by the African authority in order to allow you to fly in that country. Operators used to pay for this annual licencing requirement.
CHC may require you to sit a Canadian licence sometime after joining as this can easily be renewed by their training staff during annual checkrides - and obviates the need for them to compensate you for renewing your original licence. A logical and understandable system which also pleases the beanstealers.
It is not unreasonable to suspect that you might need / want to return to whence you came at some stage later, for whatever reason. This may mean you would to have maintain your original licence therefore at your own cost if you want the chance to react quickly to take advantage of other offers of employment there.
Not sure if this a further attempt at world domination by converting their pilots - or just an opportunity to influence / impart some welcome Canadian aviation common-sense and pragmatism alongside the well-intentioned but expensive and draining JAA system?!*!
